Marine-engine governor.



No. 67l,983. Patented Apr. l6, I90l.

. J. SYDNEY.

MARINE ENGINE GOVERNOR.

(Application filed Nov. 29, 1899.) (Nu Model.) 2 Sheets--Shaet I.

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qmmwau j 5 oewboz 5M WW No. 67l,983. Patented Apr. l6, 190i.

. S. J. SYDNEY.

MARINE ENGINE GOVERNOR.

(Application filed-Nov. 29, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 $heats-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY JAS. SYDNEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH TO EMILE MULLER, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

MARINE-ENGINE GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 671,983, dated April 16, 1901.

Application filed November 29,1899 Serial No. 738,709. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIDNEY J AS. SYDNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine-Engine Governors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which-it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in marine-engine governors, and more especially to an electrically-operated governor by means of which racing of the engines of a vessel is prevented when the propeller rises out of the water. In order to accomplish this result, my said invention embodies the novel arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my said invention, Figure 1 represents in fragmentary side elevation a vessel equipped with myimproved governor. Fig. 2 represents, on a smaller scale, a rear elevation of a vessel equipped with my improved governor. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of one of the solenoids and steampipe valve, showing the two connected. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of one of the solenoids connected to the link-reversin g mechanism of the engine, and Fig. 5 is a diagram of the electric circuit.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

A represents a vessel, and B its engines, which drive the propeller C. At the stern of the vessel and preferably on each side thereof are the metallic plates D, secured to the outside of the vessel and insulated therefrom, as at 01. These plates extend downward to a point about on a line with the center of the propeller and upward a short distance above the vessels water-line. The plates D are electrically connected in series with a rheostat E, the solenoids F and H, and with the electric generator or ships dynamo G.

The solenoid F is provided with a core f, which is connected through the lever-arm f to the valve-rod f of thereversing-engine F. The piston-rodf of the reversing-engine is connected to the link mechanism f in the usual manner. A spring f is mounted at one end of the solenoid F and normally engages one end of the core f, the spring being held in a bracketf The construction of the solenoid H is substantially the same as the solenoid F, having the core h and spring h, held in the bracket h but in this instance the core of the so lenoid is connected by a link 72. to the operating-arm h of the main steam-pipe valve 72?.

The operation of the device is as follows: The resistance of the electric circuit is so adjusted by the rheostat E that so long as the vessel is on a level keel ontbe propeller is at its proper depth in the water, and hence as long as the plates D are submerged to a corresponding extent, the current flowing over the circuit will be sufficient to cause the solenoids F and H to draw in theircores against the tension of the springs f and h to such an extent that the reversing-engine valverod f will be pulled to that position where the links will be set for the forward motion of the ship or for the backward motion, if the case requires it, and the steam-pipe valve 771 will be opened. When, however, the stern of the vessel rises, the resistance between the plates D will be increased and the current flowing through the solenoids will be diminished in exact proportion to the rise of the stern of the vessel, and as a consequence the core of each solenoid, acting under the tension of the springsf and 71., will operate upon the reversing-engine and steam-pipe valve of the main engine and cause the steam to be cut off gradually and the links to be moved toward the central position, reducing the speed of the main engine in proportion to the rise of the propeller. As soon as the stern of the vessel falls again the reverse action-will take place, when the steam-pipe valve will be opened and the engine again started. The resistance between the plates will thus vary according to the depth to which the plates are submerged. When the vessel is loaded, the resistance of the circuit will be lower than when it is not loaded, though the vessel is on a level keel, as is obvious; but this difference in the resistance of the circuit may be compensated for by the rheostat E.

Instead of controlling both the reversing mechanism and steam-pipe valve it is obvious that I may employ only one of these at one time-that is to say, I may govern the engine by operating the steam pipe valve alone without interfering with the reversing mechanism; nor do I confine myself to the exact location of the plates D as shown, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. Thus, for example, when the vessel is of Wood or other non-conductor the plates would be placed one upon the other, while if the vessel has a metallic hull the plates would be arranged preferably as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. There are many other obvious changes that might be made in my said invention without departing from the spirit thereof; but

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a marine-engine governor, the combination with the main steam-pipe valve, of a solenoid, operative connection between said steam-pipe valve and said solenoid, a source of electric current electrically connected to said solenoid, a water-rheostat connected in the circuit with said solenoid and comprising two fixed conductors secured to the outside of the stern of the vessel and in contact with the water, the resistance between said conductors being varied in proportion as the stern of the vessel is submerged, and a rheostat in the circuit with said solenoid for adjusting the normal resistance of the said circuit, substantially as described.

2. In a marine-engine governor, the combination with a reversing-engine having a lever for operating the valve thereof, of a solenoid,

operative connection between said reversinglever and said solenoid, a source of electric current electrically connected to said solenoid, a Water-rheostat connected in the circuit with said source of current and solenoid, said rheostat comprising two fixed conductors secured to the outside of the stern of the vessel and in contact with the water, the resistance between said conductors being varied in proportion as the stern of the vessel is submerged, and a rheostat in the circuit with said solenoid for regulating the normal resistance of the circuit, substantially as described.

3. In a marine-engine governor, the combination with the valve for admitting driving fluid to the engine and the mechanism for reversing said engine, of a solenoid operatively connected to said valve, and a solenoid operatively connected to said reversing mechanism, a source of electric current electrically connected to said solenoids, a water-rheostat comprising two fixed conducting-plates secured to the outside of the stern of the vessel and in contact with the water, said plates being connected in said electric circuit, said water-rheostat governing the flow of current through the coils of said solenoids in proportion as the stern of the vessel is submerged, a rheostat located in the circuit with said solenoids for adjusting the normal resistance of the circuit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIDNEY JAS. SYDNEY.

Witnesses:

GEo. W. HARDING, Jr., V. C. DAMON. 

